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As the growing season is coming to a close, I thought I’d update everyone on my garden project!

Here are some notes about things that worked and things that weren’t so successful:

Mesclun greens – I scattered seeds in three of the squares in my square-foot garden. They grew really well and provided fresh baby greens for about 6-8 weeks. They were delicious in my Garden Salad with Edible Flowers.

Butter lettuce – Again, I scattered these and let them come up. I picked a few of the baby greens and decided to let some grow into larger lettuces. Once they started to grow larger, if they didn’t have enough space, they just grew upwards. Next year, I’ll plant them a little farther apart so they have room to spread out and get big.

Kale – I was given some kale seedlings that have done really well. Next year I’ll plant way more!

Tomatoes – I bought the biggest plants I could find at Sunnyside (I think they were about 20″ already) and they have exploded. We’ve been picking the smaller, grape-tomato size for at least 4 weeks. The larger beefsteaks have been coming ripe for about 2 weeks and I’m starting to get a large stock of them that I’ll probably make into salsa.

I’m super excited to be teaching for Start From Scratch this September. It’s been out there for a little while, but thought I’d post about it here too.

Start From Scratch is a cooking initiative for Calgary university students. It aims to illuminate how simple, cost effective and healthy cooking can be compared to boxed/prepared products. The program runs for 10 weeks (Tuesday class start September 27, 2011; Thursday classes start September 29, 2011) and is completely free thanks to some very generous sponsors.

Here’s a little bit about what we’ll be doing each week:

Week 1: Breaking The Ice

Pastas, sauces and lasagna…because we’ve got to start somewhere, right? Starting with basic pasta and then going to the next level. Kind of like Super Mario.

Week 2: Good Morning Sunshine!

Quit skipping breakfast! Quick morning snacks to grab on the way out the door so you can stay awake in that 9 a.m. chemistry class. Aviv Fried, better known as The Sidewalk Citizen Baker, will be here to bake some great stuff with us.

Week 3: Couch Change Classics

We’re generally pretty budget friendly here at Start From Scratch, but these to-go recipes are for those ‘rummaging in the couch for spare change’ kind of times. Hey, we’ve all been there! You’ll learn how to stretch your dollars without sacrificing taste.

Week 4: This Little Piggy…Came From The Local Market

Do we smell a field trip to the farmers’ market? Yes, yes we do. We’ll be heading over to the Calgary Farmers’ Market to get inspired about sourcing, and utilizing, ingredients from local suppliers. Amanda Middleton from Spragg’s Meat Shop will be coming by the class as well for a butchering demo! Let’s get chopping! Continue reading →

After redoing all the work my dad and I did the day before (back on May 31!), I finally got to planting. I went a little crazy at the garden store, which I’m sure you can all relate to. There were so many tempting things with the promise of great reward! Continue reading →

Summer is on its way and it’s a beautiful time of year to switch up your practice a little. With the short amount of warm weather Calgary gets, remember your present-moment thinking and get outdoors whenever you can. Getting out into Mother Nature will serve to purify your body and mind from the chaos of the city.

If you like hiking, focus on walking consciously, counting your steps; take a break in a serene spot to spend some time in seated contemplation; or strike one of your favourite poses in a beautiful setting, getting someone to capture it on camera so you can post a picture somewhere that’ll inspire you day-to-day. Continue reading →

My garden last year was a bit of a disaster. Not enough sun + buckets of rain = slugs + rotting + sadness. So this year I decided to invade my dad’s backyard in the hope that his Southwest exposure will do the trick. Continue reading →

I like simple recipes, made with whole foods, that are good for the body and the soul. I help people get back into the kitchen and reconnect with their food. I have an affinity for freshly made pie, strong Earl Grey tea, figs and making new friends. Welcome!

Stay Tuned!

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